Keane, then McGeady or Duff. You always get your best technical strikers of the ball to take a penalty. Frank Lampard is the bizarre exception to this rule.Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar
Just had another look as well, cant believe how bad each of the goals were. Ok the third one was an unlucky deflection, but the second one particularly, we were cut open on the left hand side. Really because KK and McG were not in tandem and KK was far too deep. Ward who was prone to this on Friday will need to be wary. Really will be vital not to give Russia a good start like we did at the Aviva, need to frustrate them. The encouraging thing is that when we did seem to get at their defence they were not rock solid.
Keane, then McGeady or Duff. You always get your best technical strikers of the ball to take a penalty. Frank Lampard is the bizarre exception to this rule.
Would you trust Keane with a spot kick tomorrow night?
McGeady's one of our best technical strikers of the ball? He has his magic, but it's no surprise that most of the footage of McGeady's best shots on YouTube is taken from computer games.
I'd have trusted him more before Friday, but yeah I would trust him more than any of our other players. I'd trust Fahey more probably but he's injured.
That's a bit harsh. Zipping in balls from the touchline isn't his forte but he has a much more delicate and precise touch when he gets around the box. I'm sure there a few clips of goals he's set up for Spartak that illustrate that.
mcgeady has a great technical ability of putting the ball about two yards wide of the near post. i sometimes wonder why he doesn't just aim for the far post in all situations as he's clearly unable to strike it where he wishes.
i'd still fancy him to take a pen over duff though.
The second line was semi-frivolous. However, I just can't get that abiding image out of my head of him cutting inside into a great position and dragging a shot wide of the near post with his right foot. I do recognise other traits and strengths of his that are invaluable to the team and will defend his inclusion, and him as a player, on that basis, but I'm just not convinced shooting is one of the stronger parts of his game. 1 goal in over 40 appearances tells its own story really, and it's not like he's never been in great positions to score.
If I was to fancy someone with a penalty other than Robbie, I think Andrews could do a good job. He has a pretty good shot on him. Or Richard Dunne; I think he could toe it right through the keeper.
A bit scared about tonight after Friday's performance and our game against Russia last year. Our midfield need to play better tonight and Whelan and Andrews need to attack rather than just sitting and holding in midfield. If this happens it means McGeady and Duff will not be so isolated and Doyle and Keane will not have to play so deep. There will be a lot of pressure on Dunne to galvanise what will possibly be a nervy defensive unit too. Judgement Day has arrived! Let's beat the Commies!
I read a bit of it. I'm finding myself clenching my fist when reading Irish soccer columns with a lot more regularity these days.
I wouldn't normally say this, but, if Doyle wasn't injured, and word emitted letting on that was the case, hence Long being picked, and then Long gets injured, then Kev does have a right to be peeved. I've never once got the impression he's an ego - the opposite actually. If the manager wants to pick a different side, then do so, and call it as it is, don't go round making up stories.
I'll try and reprint the article if I have time tomorrow.
Exactly pos. Doyle has both injured himself and played through injury for us - with no complaint. He's been battered for the good of the team for long enough. If the manager wants to change things around, he should do just that and say just that. The comment of Doyle getting one over when coming on as a sub was just petty- if it's accurate.
Doyle won't retire on us. Nor is he at the knackers yard either. First half he wasn't bad, he won some good ball and layed off some decent ball in good positions, but the two fouls in consecutive plays didn't look great.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
The next game is away to Andorra, so none of the players on a yellow should worry about picking one up.
Peno duties? McGeady has a good spot kick on him. Robbie's blip on penalties is just that, a blip. Whelan would be a good shout too actually.
Robbie, McG, Whelan.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
McGeady attempting an interview in Russian:
Kudos.
Yep, It's a crock of **** that one alright. If he wants backs to the wall defending, then he's gone for the right man perhaps! If he wants to defend, retain possession and actually do something with the ball, then he should pick Foley.
Let's face it, he doesn't like Foley.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
I'll be honest, I've no issue with the back 4 as a defensive unit. I actually think we might be a bit stronger at the back tomorrow. O'Dea doesn't do pressure, and he's been more than capable for us when it matters. In fact, if he does well tomorrow, and we get a positive result, I'd be inclined to keep him there. He'd been in the last two games and not put a foot wrong (DUnne was at fault for the Mace goal).
As I wrote elsewhere, one of the problems last October was not knowing how to deal with the Russian's fluid formation. Something people forget though, is that we were all over Russia for the first 9 mins and should have been a goal up. Then we handed them one on a plate. Blame Whelan for the goal being scored, but it was Shay Given that made the decisive error for the goal, and even when the shot was taken, it needed a deflection. That changed the whole ethos of the game, as we needed to play riskier football. It was only when they got the sucker punch did they put moves together and pick us apart. Slovakia use a less refined system, but the signs are there that we are learning. Ward stuck to Weiss, with the winger covering to good effect.
While I do think there is a better formation for the type of players we have available, one that doesn't necessarily rely on Robbie dropping back, that is a moot point at the moment, but the alternative that he is going to employ can work. It just means we have to be more effecient on and off the ball. I still believe we are only a couple of players and unfortunately a more positive manager away from breaking through the ceiling we're under. Whether we can last the pace until then is a different story.
Given, for a country and playing resources of our size, our pretty exceptional away results over the past 4 years, I wouldn't be surprised with a draw tomorrow. Unfortunately I think we need the win; and with doubts over Doyle and McGeady's fitness, the ability of the back 4, allied to the absence of Long, Coleman, O'Shea, I just can't see us being composed enough, for long enough, to get the win.
Here they come! It’s the charge of the “Thanks” Brigade!
Largely due to the Russians deciding their own KO time and that our lads will fly back straight after, so we can't really blame the Slovaks for this one.
We had any 'advantage' when they played in Armenia...
Came across this as well:
It's footage from our 1986 World Cup qualifying game in the Luzhniki Stadium against the USSR in October of 1985. We lost 2-0 but Seamus McDonagh had a good game in goals pulling off some impressive saves.
Id trust Long as well, also out though, his tail is up at the moment and he took a number for Reading last season as well. In the unlikely event of us getting one, and Robbie going on to miss it, his detractors will have a solid case for his misses being the sole reason we dont qualify, and I wouldnt be fully confident of him at present to knock one in.
As for the game, I can see us needing to soak a lot of pressure up and a draw is probably our best hope, our chance was V Slovakia in this group and we had the chances to do them in both games, but didnt. Its a little bit steep from here on in for us, and the performance on Friday has left me doubtful we have this in us.
Ireland to win 1-0, Keane from the spot, with McGeady having dived then.
I broke up with my girlfriend of 3 years a few hours ago.
I REALLY need Ireland to get a result later. I feel like absolute sh1t!
Folding my way into the big money!!!
Who pulled the trigger?
That's the real debate; who'd win this penalty? I'd favour Duff. He has had years of experience to perfect the art and has even dived successfully for us on the biggest stage. In saying that, McGeady has spent the last year or so under the influence of them foreign coaches. It's a tough call.
Duff would have been the man at one point but he rarely gets up enough of a head of steam these days to dive with any credibility, it would also require him being in posession inside the Russian penalty area.
I chose McGeady as he earns his living there and would have to go back to face the music every week in one of those tales only sport can provide.
I would say Hunt could be a man who could go down like he had been sniped if the opportunity were to present. And surface moments later with that leery smirk on him.
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